Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-11-22
THE HOSPITAL.
An Investigation by the
Supervisors.
A REPORTER TAKES NOTES.
A Host of Witnesses Examined
Great Cry and Little Wool
the Result.

hebdomadal, a screed which tended to
cast great discredit on that institution
and it's management. This was a
surprise to such OF the public as be-
came acquainted with these charges ;
for the care of the affair rests finally
on the shoulders of DIR. Il. G. Man
ming, a gentleman of great expert
ence, and with the reputation Of
perfect integrity. This publication
led the Supervisors to make an inves-
tigation, and this fact reaching the
ears of a HERALD reporter, he re-
paired to the county farm on the east
side of the river yeste day afternoon.
He had hardly sauntered about the
premises when carriage drove up.
and the Supervisors in body alighted
and entered the office, where they
were met by DIR. Shultz, the resident
physician, and the investigation was
on foot in moment. DIR. Shultz, it
might be remarked in passing, is a
regular physician. having graduated
at the Tulane University in New Or
leans.
M. Meagher, who claims to be a
pioneer of this county, was called, and
he acknowledged he was the author
Of the screed referred to. He is sick
from an attack of rheumatism and is
fifty years old.
The first charge was that Maxwell,
the night nurse, had some time ago
taken u nurse out of the female ward
to the mems ward, where he had kept
her all night. The innuendo was that
there was an immoral purpose in 80
doing.
Maxwell, being present, stated that
on the day in question DIR. Maynard
had sent new nurse over to the
institution. 1t was late in the evening
when she arrived, and there being no
place ready for her she was placed in
room with a patient, Mrs. Grimes.
The hospital is very much crowded
and it is difficult to accommodate all
in the house. Mrs. Grimes malady is
of such a nature that her room was
not q very agreeable one for the new
nurse. She objected to remaining
there, and it was proposed to send
her back to the city. A man was as
signed to accompany her, but to this
arrangement she again objected. Then
Maxwell offered her his room, and
gave her the keys to the same. A bed
was prepared there for her, and she
remained in the room all night. These
facts were all reported to DIR. Shultz
next morning, and he reported them
to DIR. Maynard. The reason OF the
report Was that the proceedings are
not according to the rules OF the insti-
tuition. But the doctor found no rea-
son to disapprove Of anything done.
All the proceedings in the
case seemed to have been open and
above board. Meagher kept protest.
ing all the time that this WAS nothing.
at is only drop in the bucket" he
reiterated many times.
Meagher, being questioned, con-
fesseu mat he had no reason to be-
lieve tnat Maxwell's story is not cor
rect in all particulars. He slept
directly under the room in question,
but heard nothing in the room
above to lead him to make
THE NEXT COUNT.
Meagher alleged in the article that
the patients had been kept on bread
and water for long periods, and fire.
1uently. That was the impression
his statements would be likely to
make. After examining great many
of the inmates, all that could be dis
covered was that on two occasions,
Meagher, himself, had been put for a
meal or two on this diet as a
punishment for insubordination to
the discipline of the hospital. There
was igerv full inquiry into this.
Meagher was invited to bring in any
witnesses he might desire, but from
all examined this was all that came
out. Melgher interposed with great
emphasis and repetition: "Oh this 10
only drop in the bucket" as on the
former part of the investigation.
THE DEAD INFANT.
The third count taken up was the
charge that dead infant had been
buried in the orchard, and that in SO
careless a manner that portions OF 1t
obtrud ID from the earth. Meagher
did not see this, but made the state.
ments "on information and beli-f. !"
Rourdais was the man whose eyes had
been petrified by this terrible sight.
He being called and questioned as to
the matter, stated that ne did not
known what it was, but he had found
something buried in the garden in a
rather careless way. He was not
skilled in such things, and only saw
the matter as it protruded from the
earth. He thought it was a human
fntus. Bourdais acknowledged that
he had not the least reason to think
SO, but he thought so. Meanwhile
his colleague, Meagher, shouted with
great vigor: ooh, that is nothing ;
that is only drop in the bucket" I"
Then it was alleged that Samuels,
another inmate knew something about
this. He was called, but said he
knew nothing but what Bourdais had
told him, Dr.. Shultz was asked if
any births had taken place at the
hospital recently. He stated that
two women had been confined there
few weeks ago. After the delivery
the female nurses had deposited in
the orchard under the earth the
placenta. That was all there was OF
the dead infant episode-a drop which
did not go far towards filling the
bucket"
THE LAST COUNT.
Then came Meagher's last gun.
He said he had been most cruelty
treated. He had been ordered spec
iai diet, hut it was not given him. He
had also. been assaulted by a nurse
named Schmidt. AS to his cruel
treatment, he called s. q. McCul'
Tough to tell how this one had gone
out to procure eggs fol
him outside the hospital. And
another inmate named Ford testified
to his being refused light to get him
self rubbed by. Mccullough said ht
had got the eggs for Meagher. Fore